Former India pacer Zaheer Khan has thrown his hat into the franchise ownership in Sri Lankan cricket. Khan and businessman Nagendra Siddoutam have acquired the Lanka Premier League (LPL) team Jaffna Kings through their Stockholm-based sports ownership group, Anchor Sports AB.
Following the acquisition, the most successful team in LPL history is being rebranded as the Anchor Jaffna Kings, marking a fresh chapter for the franchise after its previous ownership was terminated last month.
This move injects heavy cricketing expertise and international corporate backing into the Sri Lankan T20 circuit. Zaheer’s transition from player and mentor to a franchise owner brings immense strategic value, promising to further elevate the profile and development of cricket in the Jaffna region.
"I've always admired the calibre, innovation and variety of bowling talent that comes out of Sri Lanka - it's a country I've visited, competed in, and hold very fond memories of. To now be part of Sri Lankan cricket as an owner is something I'm genuinely thrilled about, and I can't wait to get started with the Anchor Jaffna Kings," Zaheer said in a media release.
The franchise has undergone multiple ownership changes since the inception of the tournament. Most recently, it was owned by Sports Commune, co-owned by former India Under-19 star Manjot Kalra and entrepreneur Mayank Goel.
That ownership ended after Kalra was taken into custody on match-fixing allegations in July, while Goel's whereabouts remain unknown. Before Sports Commune, the franchise was owned by the Lyca Group from 2021 to 2025, while a consortium led by Arnold Anandan and Rahul Sood controlled the team during the inaugural season.
Every private ownership tenure ended due to financial setbacks, prompting SLC and IPG to step in and manage the franchise in the ongoing season.
Despite the ownership turmoil, the team remains the benchmark of LPL success, winning four of the first five completed editions and topping the standings for the ongoing season's playoffs.
LPL Tournament Director Samantha Dodanwela expressed excitement about Zaheer's involvement, saying that it will certainly boost the league.
"Having an owner of Zaheer Khan's calibre involved with the Anchor Jaffna Kings is a real boost for the league. The mentorship and direction he can offer our young Sri Lankan players will be enormous, and we're excited to see that experience passed on both on and off the field," Dodanwela said.
